Tempe and Avondale were front runners, with other sites in downtown Phoenix, the Fort McDowell Indian Reservation, and near Fountain Hills also being considered.

The Tempe site would be close to the Cardinals’ training facility but would cost the authority $30,000 monthly in water expenses.

The Avondale land would be a donation by developer John F. Long, who would also assume the risk for the $26 million infrastructure cost.

[15] The stadium is considered an architectural icon for the region and was named by Business Week as one of the ten “most impressive” sports facilities on the globe due to the combination of its retractable roof (engineering design by Walter P Moore) and roll-in natural grass field,[16] similar to the GelreDome and the Veltins-Arena.

[17] LED video and ribbon displays from Daktronics in Brookings, South Dakota were installed in 2006 prior to Arizona's first game of the season at the new stadium.

The 25 acres (10 ha) surrounding the stadium is called Sportsman's Park (the team had previously played in a venue of the same name in St. Louis from 1960 to 1965).

The stadium's air-conditioning system made it possible for the Cardinals to play at home on the opening weekend of the NFL season for the first time since moving to Arizona in 1988.

University of Phoenix Stadium hosted Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008, in which the New York Giants defeated the previously undefeated New England Patriots 17–14 with a paid attendance crowd of 71,101.

The Cardinals' first home playoff game since 1947 took place at the stadium on January 3, 2009, with Arizona beating the Atlanta Falcons, 30–24.

[21] On February 1, 2015, the New England Patriots defeated the Seattle Seahawks 28–24 in Super Bowl XLIX held at the stadium.

On November 30, 2020, it was announced that because of Santa Clara County's new COVID-19 rules barring contact sports, the 49ers could not play at their home Levi's Stadium; they were subsequently forced to play their final three home games against the Buffalo Bills, the Washington Football Team, and the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium.

The stadium hosted a home Monday night wild card game on January 13, 2025, for the Los Angeles Rams against the Minnesota Vikings in lieu of SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, due to the ongoing impact of the January 2025 Southern California wildfires.

On January 11, 2016, University of Phoenix Stadium hosted the College Football Playoff National Championship Game featuring the No.

On December 31, 2022, as part of the College Football Playoff's semifinal games, State Farm Stadium hosted the 2022 Fiesta Bowl, featuring the No.

UConn then defeated Purdue in the championship game 75–60 to become the first team since the 2007 Florida Gators to repeat as national champions.

On January 30, 2013, Mexico played against Denmark,[23] a game that was broadcast on Televisa Deportes, UniMás, and TV Azteca.

The stadium hosted the WWE professional wrestling event WrestleMania XXVI which took place on March 28, 2010, with 72,219 fans in attendance.

[citation needed] On August 1, 2009, the stadium hosted Monster Jam Summer Heat, with Maximum Destruction defeating Captain's Curse in the racing finals and Grave Digger winning the freestyle event.

On February 10, 2019, Russell M. Nelson, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, spoke to an audience of 68,000, a capacity larger than many events due to the majority of the field space being filled with seats.

[47] On April 11, 2017, the University of Phoenix terminated the naming rights just over halfway into the 20-year deal, citing financial woes.

University of Phoenix will remain involved as a sponsor with the team in a reduced capacity as the Cardinals' "official education partner."

Parking spaces for guests are zoned with preferred leaving directions, to achieve the fastest possible movement of traffic.